| Dr. Erin E. Boh, board certified in Dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Cosmetic Dermatology.
Q. What is cosmetic dermatology?
A. Cosmetic Dermatolgy is a sub-specialty of dermatology that utilizes medical teatments and surgical procedures to improve the appearance of the skin.
Q. What are the types of cosmetic dermatology available?
A. In additon to the procedures listed in #2 above, others include fat transfer, hair transplantation, scalp reduction, scar revison, intravascular laser or electorsurgical ablation for varicose veins, tattoo removal, tissue tightening,dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, face lift and blepharoplasty. In addtion to procedures there is a broad range of preventative and corrective non- surgical treatments for wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, scars, hair loss, excessive hair growth and excessive sweating.
Q. What is the difference between Cosmetic Dermatology and surgical dermatology?
A. Surgical Dermatology encompases both cosmetic and non-cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic Dermatology involves the use of both surgical procedures and medical treatments to correct or enhance the appearance of the skin, hair and nails.
Q. What does hyaluronic acid do to facial skin?
A. Injected hyaluronic acid can be used to improve the appearance of wrinkles and certain scars. It works by attracting molecules of water to itself and "plumping up" the skin in the areas where it is injected. Hyaluronic acic may also be applied to skin as a lotion to help hold moisture in the skin.
Q. What is your recommended treatment for facial "spider veins?" Also, what are the common associated side effects of the procedure used?
A. I generally use a puled-dye vacular laser. The only significant side-effect is some degree of bruising for about a week. For very large facial veins, I will sometimes use injection sclerotherapy.
Q. What are the main difference in the CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast procedure from other injectible collagen treatments?
A. The only other injectable collagen, Evolence, was withdrawn from the market in November, 2009.
Q. What is the difference between ablative and non-ablative laser treatment?
A. These procedures are primarily used for skin resurfacing and tightening. Ablative laser treatments produce epidermal (skin surface) damage and require more time to heal. However the results are generally more dramatic. Non-ablative procedures are less invasive, using various technologies to produce thermal damage in the collagen layer of the skin that results in collagen rearrangement, some new collagen formation which in turn cause skin tightening and wrinkle reduction. |
